By Bill W. Cooper
Cllr. Pearl Brown Bull, has condemned what she described as the “illegal” removal of Fonati Koffa as Speaker, by some members of the House of Representatives.
Cllr. Bull, describing the lawmakers’ action as unconstitutional also called on the Representatives to uphold and respect the Liberian Constitution, ensuring that the rule of law is respected at all times, and said, “Because, we made the lawmakers and we can break them.”
Cllr Pearl Brown Bull is one of the signers of the Constitution, as her assertion followed a serious altercation between the Police and some Liberians dubbed, “Concerns Citizens for the protection of the Constitution and rule of law” who had gone to protest at the grounds of the Capitol.
Forming part of the protest, the Cllr. was also amongst several Liberians to have been affected by the shooting of tear gas by police to disperse the protesters who attempted forcing their way in the premises of the Legislature.
The protest, organized by disenchanted Liberians, was aimed to address a myriad of issues, including government corruption, economic hardship, respect for the rule of law amidst the impasse at the House of Representatives over the removal of Fonati Koffa.
But the rally later turned chaotic, leaving what was expected to be a peaceful assembly to have ended in a deadlock, with police deploying tear gas to disperse the crowd and several arrests made, including that of Sekou Kolasco, a close aide to former President George Weah.
Explaining her ordeal, Cllr. Bull also condemned the continuous police’s aggressive tactics towards Liberians exercising their constitutional rights through protestations, with a caveat for the police to desist or be held accountable for their action.
She also emphasized the importance of civic engagement and the need for citizens to reclaim their power, stressing, “This is not just about today; this is about our future. We are here to remind our leaders that they serve us, not the other way around.”
Cllr. Bull continued, “This is not how a democracy functions. We have the right to assemble and express our grievances without fear of violence. The police’s actions today are a clear violation of our constitutional rights.”
She also reiterated her condemnation of the police’s tactics, stating, “We will not be silenced. We will continue to fight for our rights and demand accountability from our leaders. The people of Liberia deserve better.”
Cllr. Bull has at the same time vowed to continue their fight for justice and accountability, promising that this is just the beginning of a larger movement for change, ensuring the respect for the rule of law and the protection of the Liberian Constitution. She declared, “We will not back down. We will continue to stand up for our rights and demand a better future for all Liberians. Together, we are stronger, and together, we will break the chains of oppression.”
